The March episode of Rhythm Passport On Air presents you with one of the freshest names on the global beats scene. A band that is becoming ubiquitous in these times of online gigs, with new (digital) performances and participations springing up like mushrooms on a daily basis.
We are talking about larger-than-life Afro-futurist and Afro-fusionist quartet Onipa.
The project started between London and Sheffield in 2019 as a collaboration between Kweku of Ghana (K.O.G. & the Zongo Brigade) and Tom Excell (Nubiyan Twist), has rapidly grown into one of the most exciting Afro-electro acts thanks to the help and addition of Dwayne Kilvington (Wonky Logic) and Finn Booth (Nubiyan Twist).
The dancy drive of their debut album (We No Be Machine), released one year ago on Strut Records, is groovier than ever and has brought the musicians to enrich the (virtual) line-ups of festivals like SXSW and We Out Here, as well as planning a Euro Tour hopefully going on stage later this year (Covid-19 permitting).
A few days ago, we reached Kweku and Tom to learn more about the humans (that’s the meaning of ‘onipa’ in Ghanaian Akan language), their visionary afrofuturistic music perspective, how they’ve carried on collaborating despite isolation and lockdowns, and their plans for the future.
As we usually do in each Rhythm Passport On Air, we closed the episode with a selection of some of the most exciting tunes from the ‘world music world’.
Tracklist:
Onipa – We No Be Machine [from We No Be Machine; Strut Records, 2020]
Onipa – Safari Ya Muziki [from We Are; Strut Records, 2020]
Onipa feat. Leah Zawose & Pendo Zawose – Forget 2020 [from Forget 2020; Strut Records, 2020]
Nilotika Cultural Ensemble – Kekusimbe [from Ejokawulida; Nyege Nyege Tapes, 2021]
Fantasma – Umoya [from Free Love; TEKA Records, 2021]
Dom La Nena – Oiseau Sauvage [from Tempo; Six Degrees Records, 2021]
Bejuco – La Clave de Vivir [from Batea; Discos Pacifico / Llorona Records, 2021]
Nubiyan Twist feat. K.O.G.– If I Know [from Freedom Fables; Strut Records, 2021]
Gentleman’s Dub Club feat. Hollie Cook – Honey [from Down To Earth; Easy Star Records, 2021]